Abbotsford Juniors Football Club Est. 1965

AJFC Disciplinary Committee

The AJFC Disciplinary Committee (“the Committee”) is established each year and is comprised of three (3) Executive Committee members. It is tasked with reviewing and considering what if any action(s) Abbotsford Juniors Football Club should take in response to any incident that involves an AJFC member (player, coach, manager, parent or supporter) or, AJFC team more broadly. Matters considered by the AJFC Disciplinary Committee include:

The Committee’s remit includes consideration of requests by an AJFC member or team to appeal a Football Canterbury Association or Football NSW imposed penalty and/or sanction resulting from a Red card given during any match. Upon consideration of a matter, the Committee may at its discretion, impose Club penalties and/or sanctions in addition to any penalty or sanction imposed by the Football Canterbury Association and/or Football NSW upon an individual AJFC member or team.

The AJFC Disciplinary Committee will meet in person (usually at the Campbell Park Community Room) or via video conference to consider any matter. An invitation may be issued to AJFC member to attend a meeting to discuss a complaint, incident, report, penalty and/or sanction. Where the AJFC member concerned is under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian will be requested to attend the meeting noting that the meeting will not proceed without suitable adult representation. An AJFC member attending a meeting is also entitled to have a team coach or manager present at the meeting.

AJFC members should make every effort to attend at the requested time.

Disciplinary Appeals Process

The process for an AJFC member to appeal an Association fine or sanction is documented below. Before requesting an appeal of a red card penalty and sanction, all AJFC members (players, managers and coaches) should familiarize themselves with the appeals process and costs as laid out in the Football Canterbury Judiciary Disciplinary Appeals Regulations.  All costs will be borne by the appellant (the AJFC member or team) and will only be reimbursed if (a) the appeal is successful and (b) to the extent that the Club itself is reimbursed by the Football Canterbury Association.

  • Suspensions or sanctions associated with Red cards cannot be appealed if the Football Canterbury Association’s Disciplinary Panel imposes the minimum sanction for the offense committed, unless the AJFC member can provide evidence that he or she did not commit the offense. 
  • If an AJFC member (player, coach or manager) or an AJFC team believe that there are mitigating circumstances to a Association fine or sanction and wish to appeal a Red card suspension or sanction, they must first advise the Committee by emailing the Club Secretary.
  • The AJFC Disciplinary Committee will request copies of the relevant referees reports (where required) and consider the request with all information available. The Committee may request a meeting with the appellant (the AJFC member or AJFC team management) at a time to be scheduled by the committee. This meeting will run through the evidence presented and discuss the relevant issues surrounding any potential appeal.
  • After consideration of the information and reports available, the Committee may at its discretion, decline the AJFC member or AJFC team’s right to appeal by providing its reasoning to the member or team concerned.
  • If a decision to appeal is sanctioned by the AJFC Disciplinary Committee, the appellant must agree to cover the cost incurred should an appeal be unsuccessful. An AJFC Committee Member is required to attend any appeal with the appellant. The appellant has the right to request one additional person to be present at an appeal to assist with their representation. Any additional Football Canterbury Association fines including costs for Judiciary meetings will be passed on to the AJFC member and/or the AJFC team concerned.
  • In the event of a second Red card offense during a season, an AJFC member may be required to attend the AJFC Disciplinary Committee to explain why the Club should allow him or her to continue to play and/or continue with membership at the Club. The player is entitled to have their team coach or manager, and a parent where they are 18 years or younger, present at this meeting.